Walking sticks allowed in carry on luggage yesterday and now today changed their minds

Sharp points - understood.
Believe it or not, there such a thing as a “tactical” walking stick, whereby, the spear tip is concealed in the shaft. A person unscrews the tip segment, rotates it, and screws it back together as a weapon. People can probably also conceal other types of contraband within the shaft.

Well, the MSN article link in the original post says poles are OK now, with some caveats, as noted above. But the article also says, “If you're hoping to travel light, take a look at the TSA's advice on what you can bring …” and it includes an embedded link to the TSA Website. There, it still says that @hiking poles” are allowed in checked luggage, but not when carried on (green check mark vs. red “X”).

I’m still having to check bags, as done on the last several trips, until I’m certain that it’s more likely that they won’t be confiscated than that they will be. The disclaimer that it’s always up to the TSA worker, and if they’re having a good day, or think I looked at them wrong, or have something against anyone with trekking poles is the other dubious thing.

TSA made me throw away my tactical pen on one trip.

I would not attempt carry-0n for my poles (with rounded tips) until I see it in writing. And then I would carry a copy of that. As Cyn notes, the TSA website says that hiking poles are NOT allowed in carry-on bags.

https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/whatcanibring/sporting-and-camping?page=3

The alphabetical TSA items list, in the “A’s,” also says that antlers are allowed in carry-on, as long as they fit in the airplane’s allowed storage space. Really? An antelope’s antlers are relatively small, but are pointy and potentially more lethal than a small pair of scissors, for example. Elk antlers probably aren’t going to be even considered, but imagine someone positioning them under a seat, or threading them around bags already in an overhead compartment.

Compared with other things that are allowed but could arguably be used for more harm than trekking poles could, lightweight, folding poles would be nice to be able to be confident that they could be carried on in a suitcase. Getting them through security at a non-TSA airport is still the biggest concern.

TSA made me throw away my tactical pen on one trip.

If it was something like this with a glass breaking tip, I am not surprised

https://www.amazon.com/Atomic-Bear-Tactical-Pen-Ballpoint/dp/B01MG25VN1/ref=asc_df_B01MG25VN1?tag=bngsmtphsnus-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=80539344310814&hvnetw=s&hvqmt=e&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=&hvtargid=pla-4584138871719627&psc=1

Well, yesterday the TSA website said hiking poles are allowed in carry on bags. I did actually print it out. And today, it’s been changed. So, I guess, JK!

https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/tips/tsa-u-turns-on-flying-with-hiking-poles-here-s-what-you-need-to-know-for-thanksgiving-travels/ar-AA1uVm8e?ocid=socialshare

Lately, I’ve been bringing a cane, when I don’t check bags.

Yeah, no... don't go rushing to the airport yet with your trekking poles just yet.

"That was an accident": TSA error gives hikers false hope for flying with trekking poles – here's what you need to know

https://www.advnture.com/news/tsa-u-turns-on-flying-with-hiking-poles-heres-what-you-need-to-know-for-thanksgiving-travels

Treat news feeds like third parties.

The error was the TSA. They printed it on their website. The news sources only reported what the TSA had posted

The error was the TSA. They printed it on their website. The news sources only reported what the TSA had posted

YES, absolutely! TSA messed up and adventure.com/Julia Clarke put out a correcting article to the originial report. It's the various news feeds, Google, AoL, MSN, Bing, et al, they're not necessarily curating and pushing out the corrective article, which came out Thursday, while still promoting the original report.

Good grief, what a mess

Anything with the word tactical in it will most likely be confiscated.
Wal-Mart; ozark trail poles around $15 - 20, unless higher due to inflation. Buy at destination and donate before leaving. However, a traveler may not have access to Wal-Mart and sometimes, the poles are out of stock.
Victorinox - Swiss Army knives - nearly went out of business due to 9/11 and TSA. Thank goodness the company found alternatives.

Cyn nailed it:

The disclaimer that it’s always up to the TSA worker, and if they’re having a good day, or think I looked at them wrong, or have something against anyone with trekking poles is the other dubious thing.
Security Kabuki....... brad

So, just saw an article forwarded to me, today, ironically, "TSA Agents spill the 9 Travel Mistakes that Slow Down the Security Line". Today, I feel like one of the listed mistakes should be, "Following information on the TSA website".

Hahaha - so true Jules !!

I am only sharing my personal experience: I have been traveling with ONE telescoping Hunger Hiker trekking pole since 2019. There is no pointy spike and recently I even removed a metal bit on the end. I use a rubber stopper on the end. I have flown through many regional and international airports including: Istanbul, Keflavik, Paris, Prague, Luxembourg, Paris again, Osaka, Tokyo, Portland OR, Akron and Cleveland (8 times?).

Not once did anyone in the non-US airports take any notice of my pole. I use the pole like a cane in the security line and then place it on the conveyer belt for the x-ray machine, going through the body scanner without it.

Three times in Cleveland there was a discussion:
1. The person screening IDs prior to the bag/body screening told me it wasn't allowed. I did not acknowledge that she was speaking to me and proceeded to the x-ray machine. It went through without incident.
2. A young TSA agent pulled it off the belt and was speaking to me, saying that it wasn't allowed when the supervisor came over and told him to let it go.
3. The x-ray screener pulled it out and the agent that deals with failed bags told me no way was he going to let it through. I politely asked if he would ask his supervisor. He said "sure!". Supervisor came over and did me a favor by letting it through. Her warning was that other airports might confiscate it from me.

I will be disappointed when the occasion occurs that I can't get it through, but I am prepared to lose it. If that happens, I will purchase a cane to use at my destination.

Added to this confusion is that airport security in some countries seems to allow walking sticks and hiking poles in carry-on luggage. I was surprised when one of my travel buddies was allowed to board a plane with hiking poles visibly sticking out of her backpack. It was an Italian airline and they also didn't make everyone take off their shoes either.